Weight gain

Some people find they don’t lose weight during treatment. They may even gain weight. This is particularly true for people with breast, prostate, or ovarian cancer who are taking certain medicines or getting hormone therapy or chemotherapy.

If you notice you’re gaining weight, tell your cancer care team so you can find out what may be causing this change. Sometimes you gain weight because certain cancer-fighting drugs cause your body to hold on to extra fluid. If this is the case, your doctor may ask you to talk with a registered dietitian for help with limiting the amount of salt you eat. This is important because salt might cause your body to hold extra water.

Many women with breast cancer gain weight during treatment. Because of this, many of the recommendations for breast cancer patients include a reduced-calorie diet much like those suggested for patients after cancer treatment has been completed. If you have any questions, talk to your cancer care team about the best diet for you.

Weight gain may also be the result of increased food intake and decreased physical activity. Some people find it helps their nausea to have something in their stomachs, so they eat more. Other people eat more when they’re stressed or worried.

If you want to stop gaining weight, here are some tips that can help:

What to do

Ask your cancer care team for a referral to a registered dietitian to help you get your nutrition needs met without gaining weight.

Try to walk daily if you can and if it’s OK with your doctor. Talk with your cancer care team about referral to a physical therapist to help you safely increase activity levels.